Propeller Skies

This Saturday the 10th Annual Blue Healer, benefiting Children’s Healthcare, was held at Park Tavern. There was a good crowd, including plenty of beautiful babies at the event. The Piedmont Room was packed and the downstairs bar was full as well. The great crowd and an open bar made for an excellent event. Be sure and check out the 11th annual Blue Healer next year.

When I arrived, I ran into Kat’s friend Deanne (who I never recognize) at the door. I finally remembered her this time. Soon after, I ran into recurring Propeller Skies character Eric, who heads up Atlanta Vinos. We chilled a bit and then I wandered off to photograph.

notes:

PHOTO: Random revelers attending the Blue Healer at Park Tavern, Midtown, Atlanta, GA. February 28, 2004. Courtesy of d.2263 Photographics. View more Friends Junior Committee Blue Healer photos.

Shaun and Janet, friends of mine, threw a house party Saturday evening that I dropped in on before moseying over to the Park Tavern. At least 80 people showed up and I knocked back a few Sierra Nevadas while chilling with several friends I had not seen in a while. A big shout-out goes out to recurring Propeller Skies character The Professor, who actually managed to show up to an event for once.

Dear Burger Joe’s staff: Sierra Mist is NOT Mountain Dew. Sierra Mist is a vile concoction that makes me want to hurl. If you incompetent ass-turkeys ever fucking substitute Sierra Mist for anything, ever again, under any circumstances, The Vortex will become the exclusive burger supplier to Smoove D.

Whoever came up with the term “fabulous” to describe the Fox Theater could probably sell whiskey to Jack Daniels. I was there for an event today and expected a classy, 1920s art deco architectural theme. What I found was hopelessly lame-ass faux Egyptian. Weak sauce.

The aforementioned event that I attended at the Fox was the Atlanta Wine Show. While there were several vendors at the show, it was roughly as international as International Boulevard*. Wines from Spain were conspicuously absent, as was Argentina. Italy was severely underrepresented, with only some Chianti on hand.

The highlight of the show was a table serving Chilean wines. I wish I could remember the name of the winery, because the wines were easily the best at the show. Their Carmenere was fantastic and my first experience with that particular grape. Another table at the show featured decent Australian wine. They also had some tasty Muscat, a dessert wine, on hand. The show would have been great with less Georgia and more Italian, Argentinean, and Spanish wines.

notes:

* The full name is Andrew Young International Boulevard. Stay tuned, in five years it will be Catherine Woolard Shirley Franklin Bill Campbell Vernon Jones Steve Kaplan Andrew Young International Boulevard.
PHOTO: Exhibitor attending the Atlanta Wine Show at the Fox Theatre, Midtown, Atlanta, GA. February 21, 2004. Courtesy of d.2263 Photographics.

I find it fasinating that the only new person to comment after I threated beatdowns is physically the farthest away and thus immune to the consequences of not commenting. I’ve been reading his blog for a while and I recommend that all five of you who read Propeller Skies also stop by Made in Taiwan. Additional thanks goes out to Jenn for commenting. Finally, a big thank you to Al Gore for inventing the internet and making all of this possible.

Listen up ass-farmers, I spent eight hours getting the fucking comments on this damn site to work. Now I enjoy pointless frustration as much as anyone, but I have a job working for a publicly traded corporation to serve that need. After I’ve spent 40+ hours working for The Man, I like the things I do to have a purpose. The purpose of the comments is for people to comment. So start commenting, or beatdowns will be administered directly. Thank you.

Despite the fact that the bartenders at Twist are incapable of mixing a Martini that does not taste like lighter fluid, I dropped in to photograph this month’s Schmooze. The Schmooze is an Atlanta networking event that focuses on the hospitality and service industries.

Previously, I covered the Special Holiday Schmooze at King Plow for AtlantaBuzz. At King Plow, the crowd was a mix of interesting twenty and thirty somethings. In contrast, the Schmooze crowd at Twist was late thirties to forty somethings. Additionally, there was a distinct lack of beautiful babies at this event.

People were not particularly friendly and it was difficult to strike up conversations. The high noise level in Twist may have contributed, however I have been there for other events and had no problem meeting people.

This event was disappointing, especially compared to Netparty’s event at Halo on Wednesday night. At this time, I do not recommend the Schmooze.

notes:

PHOTO: Random revelers attending The Schmooze at Twist, Buckhead, Atlanta, GA. February 19, 2004. Courtesy of d.2263 Photographics.

Driving along I-75 last night, I noticed flashing blue lights behind me. I paid them no mind, since they were not catching up to me. I then realized they were unmarked cars that can not make traffic stops and therefore going somewhere interesting. Next, through a three-martini haze, I remembered I had my camera. So I chased the cops down the Howell Mill Road exit. At the intersection of Howell Mill and Collier, several cop cars were parked near the Blockbuster. I ditched my car in the Post Office lot and ran over to see what was going on.

Unfortunately, no one was robbing the Blockbuster. However, there were about eight fire trucks parked on Collier and in the Ghetto Right plaza. The Beer Mug, which had closed about a month earlier, was on fire. Bizarre coincidence or suspicious circumstance? Discuss.

When I arrived, some smoke was coming out of the building and a couple of TV station camera crews were standing around looking bored. I stood around for a while, waiting for the building to burst into spectacular flames and score some awesome photographs. There are no exciting pictures, since the fire department actually put the fire out before much happened. That would make them the only competent department in the City. A big fuck you goes out to the incompetent arsonists who started the blaze. A roaring fire would have made for some swell flicks.

I stopped by Halo for Netparty’s heavenly evening of business and social networking. Two words: mad hotties.

The event started off slowly, so I chilled at the bar and had a few Martinis. Their traditional Martini is made dry, with Sapphire and a twist of lemon. Just how I make them at home. I love this place. It is the equal of The Mark, one of the only other true lounges in Atlanta.

As I was sipping my Martini, people started wandering into the event. Unfortunately, they were all in the IT business, which makes them about as fun to socialize with as, say, engineers. I was sitting there with a sinking feeling, since there was more sausage than a Bob Evans factory.

As the night went on, Halo filled up with plenty of beautiful babies who meandered in. Photographs, as per usual, will be posted on AtlantaBuzz sometime next week.

notes:

PHOTO: Gabby and Robin attending Netparty at Halo Lounge, Midtown, Atlanta, GA. February 18, 2003. Courtesy of d.2263 Photographics.

Thanks to Julie, Ingrid, and Robyn for throwing a hell of a party with beautiful babies all over the place. And the proceeds benefited the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Soon after I walked into the Tin Roof Cantina, I ran into Kristy and Kim who are on the Hair of the Dog host committee. After getting a beer I ran into Shane, who runs USA Entertainment, a special events promotion and marketing company.

Readers who peruse Propeller Skies regularly may remember the $10 Dogwood challenge. This time around, the challenge was slightly different: for $20 dollars, drink all the Dogwood you possibly can. Unfortunately, I failed miserably and woke up feeling fine this morning. Part of the problem was the uncharacteristically long wait times for refills, which can be blamed on the wankers ordering cocktails at an all you can drink beer party. Newsflash: when there are 250 people in the place clamoring for drinks, the bartenders DO NOT have time to mix a proper cocktail. For best results, order a beer.

notes:

PHOTO: Random revelers at the Valentines Day Still Sucks Party at Tin Roof Cantina, in Midtown, Atlanta, GA. February 13, 2004. Courtesy of d.2263 Photographics. View more Valentines Day Still Sucks Party photos.